LIMA, CUSCO, AGUAS CALIENTES, MACHU PICCHU, OLLANTAYTAMBO, PISAC, SACRED VALLEY
Immerse yourself in historical culture with a luxury private tour of Peru. This tour has been specially prepared for your group, taking into account your particular needs. With Elite Travel, you will travel in comfort and style. Our tour manager will accompany you for the entire trip, to ensure smooth transitions throughout your adventure. We utilize local guides for added specific interest in various sites. Be prepared to learn about mythical Peru with its Inca ruins, colonial architecture, pre-Columbian art, colorful markets and mist-cloaked peaks. You’ll participate in a spiritual ceremony and learn about the country’s cultural roots. At the end of each day, you’ll retire to hotels chosen for their comfort as well as location. Welcome to Peru with Elite Travel.
DAY 1, (9/13/24) – DEPART FOR PERU, ARRIVE IN LIMA
Depart for Lima, Peru’s vivacious and sophisticated capital. You’ll be warmly greeted upon arrival by our representatives and comfortably transported to your deluxe hotel, perched above the Pacific Ocean in the city’s trendy Miraflores neighborhood. Most flights arrive in the evening. For early arrivers, we will plan some local activities for the afternoon.
Overnight: Casa Republica Barranco Boutique Hotel
DAY 2, (9/14/24) -ARCHITECTURAL WALKING – LIMA, LARCO HERRERA MUSEUM – WELCOME RECEPTION
For nearly 500 years since its founding in Spain, the Historic Center of Lima has been the seat of the first colonial government and the Republican government since 1821. Until the 1940s this area was also the place of residence of the most powerful families in the country. This morning a specially arranged tour of the magnificent Larco Herrera Museum, housed in a restored 18th-century viceroy mansion. The acclaimed museum houses one of the world’s greatest collections of pre-Columbian masterpieces and a priceless exhibition of gold and jewels. We will have lunch at the gardens of this museum.
We will see some of the most important government buildings, churches and mansions, as well as some of the lesser known, with attention to different architectural styles and typical balconies.
Many of the buildings have their foundations in the 16th century and most of the current architecture is from the 18th century. In the early evening we will visit the magic water circuit and see the colorful laser light program synchronized with classical and Peruvian music that makes the fountains sparkle and shine as the water flows in unique patterns and shapes. A truly magical experience and a wonderful showcase of water! The show lasts around 30 minutes. After the show is over, we will enjoy a marvelous welcome dinner to sample the amazing food of Peru. We will see why Peru is a top culinary destination of the world!
Overnight: Casa Republica Barranco Boutique Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3, (9/15/24) SACRED VALLEY
Depart by flight to Cuzco in the Peruvian Andes, once the capital of the Inca Empire, now known for its archaeological remains and Spanish colonial architecture. At an altitude of 11,000 feet above sea level, Cuzco is the gateway to the major Inca sites in the Sacred Valley and the mountain citadel of Machu Picchu. From Cusco we begin the drive into the picturesque Sacred Valley, visiting the Chincheros artisan market. Here, local artisans explain their craft of textile work, describing their traditional ways of shearing, processing, dyeing, and weaving from alpaca wool. Visit the circular terraces of Moray – the Navel of the Earth. At this sacred site we will feel the connection with the three worlds represented by the sacred animals of the Incas: Condor, Puma and Snake. See how our ancestors built an amphitheater-like structure to study different microclimates. We will also visit an amazing salt pools operation en route to the sacred valley. We will continue on to the ancient town of Ollantaytambo. Check in at the hotel to relax and adjust to altitude. Dinner on your own.
Overnight: Hotel Pakaritampu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 4 (9/16/24) – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES, After a delicious breakfast, meet our guides and walk to the ancient archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, second in importance only to Machu Picchu itself. These prominent ruins overlooking Ollantaytambo townsite were the site of the only major Inca defeat of Spanish forces. The Temple of the Sun is a unique building in the Sacred Valley. It is built on top of a pyramid of terraces that lead to the Main Square. In the Temple of the Sun 6 monoliths survive that form one of the most impressive buildings of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will also see the Temple of the Condor and Princess’ Baths – carved in pink granite. A walk through this ancient town – the longest continually inhabited town since Incan days – will reveal the ancient waterways or séquias which are community-operated watercourses for irrigation and public water supply. Back at the hotel, we will experience a traditional “pachamanca” lunch – native food cooked traditionally under ground that has been prepared for us by community members. After lunch, we walk to the Ollantaytambo train station, where we board the tourist train that travels along the scenic Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes, with spectacular panoramic views of the countryside. We’ll check into our hotel at the foot of Machu Picchu. Tonight, a gourmet à la carte dinner at the famous Indio Feliz restaurant.
Overnight: Tierra Viva Cusco Machu Picchu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5, (9/17/24) – EXPLORE MACHU PICCHU, PRIVATE SPIRITUAL CEREMONY An unforgettable and exciting day exploring the crowning achievement of Inca ingenuity – the mystical ancient citadel of Machu Picchu! Declared by UNESCO as one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World,” Machu Picchu was virtually unknown to the western world until Hiram Bingham’s rediscovery in 1911. View the majestic wonders of this 15th-century retreat, abandoned nearly 100 years later with the arrival of the conquistadors. With your private guided tour, see the highlights of the site including the imposing Temple of the Sun, the House of the Priest, the Sacred Plaza and the intricately carved rock likely used as a sundial by the ancient Incas. The images of this glorious monument to a lost civilization will truly be a lifelong memory. The rest of the day is yours. Perhaps re-visit the citadel, hike on your own or just relax and surround yourself with the magic and tranquility. For those who would like to hike Huayna Picchu, we will obtain coveted entry passes. This evening, join a local Shaman for a private Spiritual Ceremony sharing the Andean ritual exalting Mother Earth. The special dinner caps a day of enchantment and revelations.
Overnight: Tierra Viva Cusco Machu Picchu
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 6, (9/18/24) – MACHU PICCHU TO CUZCO
A morning walk in the small town of Aguas Calientes (also called Machu Picchu Pueblo) takes us to the hot springs for which the town was originally named. Then, on to the Machu Picchu Museum, offering a deeper understanding of what is currently known, and still unknown, about of Machu Picchu, one of the world’s greatest wonders. After lunch, the train takes us back to the station in Ollantaytambo, then transfer to Cusco. Our hotel in Cusco is a beautifully restored colonial house which combines centuries-old charm with luxury – clustered around a tranquil area of San Blas. Tonight, perhaps stroll in Cuzco and enjoy the high-energy restaurants, cafes, and clubs.
Overnight: Quinta San Blas
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 7, (9/19/24) – “THE ROYAL CITY” OF CUZCO, TEMPLE OF THE SUN
In Cuzco, often called “The Royal City,” an architectural walking tour to the top of San Blas Hill, the Bohemian district of the city where many artists live, alive with galleries and studios, accented by flower-laden balconies. On to the colonial section of the city, a UNESCO declared World Heritage Site, built in the 17th century atop existing Incan foundations, creating a one of a kind architecture. Visit the Cathedral, the Santo Domingo church, built on top the religious complex of Koricancha that once held the extraordinary Temple of the Sun, deemed the center of the Inca world dedicated to its highest Gods. This temple’s walls and floors were allegedly once covered by sheets of solid gold. Relax over lunch at a local restaurant, where you will savor a sampling of delectable Peruvian specialties. Afterward, we visit the Farmers’ Market, to see the overwhelming variety of local goods, including flowers, crafts, and even witchcraft items. Overnight: Quinta San Blas
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8, (9/20/24) – PUKA PUKARA, QENQO, SACSAYHUAMAN
On this day of discovery, we visit the ruins of Puka Pukara, a red Incan fortress that stands on a hill with views over the surrounding countryside and the Sacsayhuaman fortress, a superb example of Inca construction techniques. Here, using massive boulders, the walls were cut and placed together with incredible precision and amazingly without a single drop of mortar to hold them in place. Then to Qenqo, one of the finest examples of artfully carved rock displaying complex patterns of geometric reliefs and puma designs. On top of the rock, view the embedded zigzag channels which served to divert liquids or sacrificed llama blood for purposes of divination. Reflect on these wonders with an outdoor gourmet lunch in the forest by the ruins while listening to our personal entertainment by local native musicians. With the afternoon at leisure, you have the opportunity to hike back to the city center, enjoy local museums such as the Laura Museum of Tapestry Art, the Cusco Center of Native Arts, or the famous Museum of PreColombian Art, or pamper yourself with a spa treatment. This evening, dinner on your own.
Overnight: Quinta San Blas
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 9, (9/21/24) – TIPON AND PIKILLACTA Morning breakfast and drive to the surrounding valleys of Cusco to the most fascinating historical sites. We will visit the Inca site of Tipón – Inca agricultural terraces and amazing water canals. We then see the pre-Inca Pikillacta. After lunch we will stop at Piñi Pampa town and learn how they make clay tile roofs by hand. Stop at Oropesa village to see how they make (and taste!) the impressively large bread for which they are known countrywide. Return to Cusco. Tonight we will meet up with the group for a final farewell dinner.
Overnight: Quinta San Blas
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 10, (9/22/24) FREE DAY IN CUZCO – FLIGHT HOME. After Breakfast today you can enjoy Cusco on your own – stroll through its cobblestone streets, poke your head into galleries and meet artists and artisans before you stop for a café on the Plaza de Armas or in the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas. After lunch on your own you can visit the Choco Museum, shop for souveniers or visit some of the other sites where you can use your “tourist ticket”. Then take a stroll back to your hotel to meet the group. In the late afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima and then connect Home.
Meals: Breakfast
INCLUDED:
• All intra-flights: Lima-Cuzco & Cuzco-Lima and airport taxes.
• 9 nights’ accommodations in well located boutique hotels
• All transfers
• Tourist train Ollantaytambo-Aguas Calientes-Ollantaytambo
• 21 meals: 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches with soft drinks, 5 dinners with wine • Bottled water daily
• Welcome and Farewell receptions
• Hotel porterage and complimentary in-room Wi-Fi
• Comprehensive sightseeing with all entrance fees per itinerary
• Tour manager throughout plus local guides
• Comfortable air-conditioned vehicles
• Tips for restaurant staff, drivers and local guide
NOT INCLUDED:
● International airfares.
● Meals as mentioned in itinerary.
● Extra beverages.
● Tips. (Bellmen, waiters, guides, cooks, drivers)
Your EliteTour Highlights
Your specially designed tour blends specially arranged private visits and rich cultural meetings with exceptional personalized services
• Discover the ancient colonial center of Lima named a UNESCO World Heritage Site • Tour the fascinating Agricultural Terraces of Moray and the Saltpans of Maras • In Ollantaytambo, visit the ruins and the traditional Indian market in the rustic Andean village
• Travel on the tourist train to Aguas Calientes enjoying the spectacular views • Explore the mystical ancient citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World”
• In Cuzco, a walking tour to the Bohemian district of the city alive with galleries and studios
• Visit Koricancha, once site of the extraordinary Temple of the Sun, center of the Inca world-a fantastic architectural site
• Tour of Puka Pukara, Qenqo and Sacsayhuaman fortress, superb examples of Inca construction
• Tour Pikillacta and Tipon
Your Elite Experiences
• Outdoor canopy lunch buffet at the archaeological sites of Cusco – with local native musicians
• Two nights at the foot of Machu Picchu will give you more time to explore the “Lost City of the Incas”
• Join a local Shaman for a private spiritual ceremony exalting Mother Earth • Visit the Machu Picchu Museum for a deeper understanding of one of the world’s greatest wonders
• Passes for Machu Picchu
• Farewell cocktail reception and dinner
Additional Information:
Passport numbers for all passengers must be submitted before documents can be issued.